ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Who Can Apply for The Self Employed Program?
To be eligible for this program, one must:
Have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics
Be willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada
Meet the program’s selection criteria
Meet medical, security and other conditions
If you plan to live in Quebec as a business immigrant, you must first apply to the Government of Québec for a Selection Certificate.
Note: IRCC has paused this program until January 2027
Relevant Experience
Relevant experience for a self-employed person means at least two years of experience. It must be during the period starting 5 years before the day you apply and ending on the day a decision is made on your application.
At a minimum, your experience must be:
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For cultural activities:
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2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
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2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
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A combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)
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For athletics:
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2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
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2 one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
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A combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above
Selection Criteria
The application under self employed program is assessed on the basis of following points
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Experience
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Education
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Age
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Language abilities
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Adaptability
Selection Criteria | Maximum Points |
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Education | 25 |
Experience | 35 |
Age | 10 |
Ability in English and/or French | 24 |
Adaptability | 6 |
TOTAL | 100 |
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Do I need a permit to study in Canada?Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. Some people in specific situations may not. You should apply for a study permit before coming to Canada. Only some people can apply for a study permit from within Canada. Before you apply, you must have a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution in Canada.
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Study Permit eligibility requirementsYou can come to Canada to study if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller If you’re under 18, you don’t have to be fully vaccinated. You do need to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan. are enrolled at a DLI prove you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada and return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada have no criminal record and get a police certificate (if required) are in good health and get a medical exam (if required) and prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires
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Who can apply under Student Direct Stream?You must be a legal resident living in one (1) of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda Brazil China Colombia Costa Rica India Morocco Pakistan Peru Philippines Senegal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Vietnam have an acceptance letter from a post-secondary designated learning institution live outside of Canada at the time of application have proof you have paid your tuition for your first year of study have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000 have a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration This is only if you’re planning to study in Quebec get a medical exam before you apply get a police certificate before you apply (if applicable in your situation) have your most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcript(s) have a language test result that shows either: an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic or general training score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening), or a Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) score that is equal to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening) Depending on your situation, you may also need to provide other documents.
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I am an international student in Canada. How can I apply to become a permanent resident?There are several permanent resident categories that you may fit into, including the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Provincial Nominee Program. Some of those categories require eligible Canadian work experience. If you want to work in Canada after you graduate from your studies, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
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How can I extend my stay as a student?The expiry date on your study permit tells you when you have to stop studying and leave Canada. If you want to study in Canada longer, you need to extend your study permit. It is recommended to apply at least 30 days before your current study permit expires. Make sure your passport doesn’t expire at the same time. Your study permit cannot be extended beyond your passport’s expiry date.
HOW TO APPLY
You can apply online by filling digital forms, or you can use an immigration representative.
An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can:
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Give you advice and help you with your application for a fee
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Help you prepare the forms and documents you need to upload
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Answer questions about the forms
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Communicate with us on your behalf through their own account.
DECISION ON YOUR APPLICATION
IRCC will make a decision on your application based on:
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Whether you meet the eligibility criteria for the program
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Whether you have enough money to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada
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The results of your medical exam and
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The information on your police certificate(s)
The office that processes your application will contact you if you need to send more documents or go to an interview.
If your application is approved, IRCC will ask you to send your passport to the visa office to issue your permanent resident visa.